RPGFan's Retro Encounter RPGFan

Accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. 

No one of sound mind plays an RPG out of spite. Players want to enjoy the games they play, sometimes with a fair amount of hype and anticipation beforehand. Today, we walk in between joy and despair, and discuss ten games that the panel wanted to love but struggled to connect with. A few of these are broadly popular, while others are from specific series dear to one panelist's heart. So which panelists dislike NieR and Xenogears? Who played an awful five-dollar DS RPG? Listen to find out what RPGs we found hard to love! 
Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Kyle Cantelon, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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But my dreams, they aren’t as empty / As my headspace seems to be

Content Warning: this podcast episode addresses many sensitive topics, including mental health issues and self-harm. 

Omori is an indie game that takes on dark themes such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and loss in a thoughtful, poignant manner. But it’s also chock-full of subversive humor and game mechanics that manipulate emotional states to create interesting puzzles both in navigation and combat. Four Retro Encounter panelists discuss the early hours of Omori, from its unique tone and mechanics to speculation on its endgame (to be addressed in part II!). Give it a listen! 
Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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Omori on RPGFan

To love is to suffer

Three RPGFan panelists are joined by RPG enthusiast YouTuber David Vinc to discuss the favorites and frustrations about the world of RPGs. Does our guest prefer the predictable comfort of Dragon Quest or the unstable beauty of Final Fantasy? Which panelist has played Lufia II dozens of times? How about games where you recruit dozens of characters? It’s an episode all about the RPGs we obsess over! 
Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Kyle Cantelon, Lucas Greene, David Vinc; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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Are you courageous enough to try Retro Encounter yet?
Back in February, Persona 3 Reload released, much to the delight of many on staff, So, this week, two veterans of Persona 3 and one newbie get together to chat about Persona 3 Reload. How does this one compare to the rest of the series? What’s our favorite party composition? Is Koromaru still the bestest boy? Listen in to find out!
Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Alana Hagues; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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Persona 3 Reload at RPGFan

Elc the Kid
Arc the Lad II is an improvement over the first in nearly every way, as a more dramatic, dynamic, and lengthy PS1 RPG only held back by some technical limitations, a lack of save points, and an excess of towers. Four Retro Encounter panelists played Arc the Lad II last month, and this game holds up well enough to have a great discussion. 
Featuring: Wes Iliff, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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Arc the Lad II at RPGFan

Arc seeking Ark
While it was a launch title for the PSOne in Japan, Arc the Lad was something of a swan song by the time it finally released in the West. It also stands as one of the final works of the now-defunct Working Designs localization company. Today our four panelists dig into this hidden classic, Finding equal parts joy and frustration in something of a proof of concept for its own sequel. Love Arc the Lad? Never heard of it? There’s something for everyone in today’s Retro Encounter!
Featuring: Wes Iliff, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri
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Arc the Lad at RPGFan